Zeiss ZM lens wobble issues

[Nigel Meaby]

Originally Posted by rommelgc

i just found this thread. finished voting and would like add my input here:
my only ZM is a 2/35mm. if i grab the barrel of the lens near the front element/hood mount and give a shake it will wobble :-( also helicoid is dry as a bone, i can't even turn the focus ring past the 1m mark (going to infinity) without force. infinity down to 0.7 is fine though.

I'd get that lens serviced if I were you. It's a relatively straightforward and inexpensive repair just as long as you don't send it to Zeiss

[rommelgc]

Originally Posted by Nigel Meaby

I'd get that lens serviced if I were you. It's a relatively straightforward and inexpensive repair just as long as you don't send it to Zeiss

thanks ... i'm not in a hurry to get it repaired ... no funds ... i did buy it used and i've used the lens for 3-4 years and it seems the wobble doesn't affect the lens or ... my eyes are really crap :0 ... might tinker with it if i get the time.

[Nigel Meaby]

Originally Posted by rommelgc

thanks ... i'm not in a hurry to get it repaired ... no funds ... i did buy it used and i've used the lens for 3-4 years and it seems the wobble doesn't affect the lens or ... my eyes are really crap :0 ... might tinker with it if i get the time.

I was thinking more about the dry helicoid than the wobble. With that stiffness, having to use force with anything is never good. Sounds like a lot of friction which could be causing wear and consequently more damage in the long run.

[Archiver]

I have to say that the 25/2.8 is now starting to wobble very slightly. It was secondhand when I bought it, so I don't know how much it was used, although it was in perfect cosmetic condition. Then again, I bought my 28/2.8 as my first Zeiss lens brand new and it is the worst of the wobblers.

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Marks

21/4.5, 21/2.8, 25/2.8. 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 35/2, 50/1.5, 50/2 - nary a wobble amongst them. (Now looking for some wood to touch . . .)

Wow. Have you thought of completing the set? I think there's only two others.

[Benjamin Marks]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Wow. Have you thought of completing the set? I think there's only two others.

I love those Zeiss lenses, but I have the ones I use. I don't use a portrait length lens often enough to need another and I think there is a monstrously expensive 18, which focal length I have covered with the C/V 15 Heliar. A lot of lenses came from RFF members used. A couple came from Popflash used.

[redisburning]

the 18 isn't that pricey, the 15 is. The 18 is about 1300 new. The 15 is the one that's made in Germany.

[Katsunami]

I've got three Zeiss ZM lenses:

21mm/2.8, 35mm/2, and 50mm/2.

The 35 and 50 are fine, but the 21mm/2.8 is giving me problems. It has developed play in the focus ring; it can be moved about 1mm either way, before it "catches" and the lens starts to actually focus. Also, it has the problem described in the quote below. If I grab the barrel with thumb and forefinger of both hands, at opposite ends, then the barrel parts can be moved. The lens makes clicking noises. Sometimes the play in the barrel can be felt when adjusting the aperture during shooting.

Lastly, I have *extreme* difficulty getting a sharp image at f/2.8. It always seems to be just off te mark.

It's no front or back focus issue: I use a GXR-M, which uses focus assist, and not a rangefinder. It reads sharpness directly from the sensor and has no rangefinder coupling, so front or back focus cannot exist.

I can't believe it's my mistake, because the 35 and 50 are tack sharp wide open, I have no issues with focussing the CV 75mm/2.5, and I can even focus the 15mm/4.5 without issue (if used at f/4.5). The 21 also gets very good reviews with regard to sharpness, so I expect it to be sharp at f/2.8.

Therefore I think that the play in the focus ring and housing may have slightly offset one or more lens elements making the lens misfocus just a hair, which can be seen at the f/2.8 aperture but is covered by DOF at f/4 or higher.

All three lenses were registered with Zeiss, for a three year warranty and I have the registration number, so this 21mm/2.8 is going back for service under warranty. Luckily I live in the Netherlands, which is a small country: sending it to the dealer will take just one working day. Oberkochen is just 500 km away, so it won't take too long to get to Zeiss either. The dealer estimates a turn-around of 6 weeks including postages, so Zeiss is a slow repairer.

The dealer did mention that he did not have any experience with Zeiss repair, as he has never had to send a Zeiss lens for service. (Personally I doubt it that they *never, ever* had to service a Zeiss lens, but maybe they never needed to send a ZM before.)

Ah well. My 21mm was the least used of the bunch, to be honest; the CV 15mm, CZ 35mm/2 and CV 75mm/2.5 get the most use, with the 21 and 50 chipping in as I need them on the GXR-M (which has a 1.5x cropfactor), so I won't miss it -that- much. I'll send it away and see what happens.

Originally Posted by rommelgc

i just found this thread. finished voting and would like add my input here:
my only ZM is a 2/35mm. if i grab the barrel of the lens near the front element/hood mount and give a shake it will wobble :-( also helicoid is dry as a bone, i can't even turn the focus ring past the 1m mark (going to infinity) without force. infinity down to 0.7 is fine though.

[el fotografo]

I have the 21 4.5 which is fine but the focus ring on my 35 2.0 is very uneven and slipping.


Who have folks used other than Zeiss USA for repairs?
Dag and Sherry.

Will Youxin repair ZM lenses? I can always ask him, but would be interested in knowing from you all.

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by el fotografo

.................. Who have folks used other than Zeiss USA for repairs? ...................

My local pro camera repair guy has serviced lubrication / binding / wobble problems on 2 of my ZM lenses. He says it is nothing special that any competent camera repair tech should be able to do.

Ask the local pro shooters around you where they get their cameras serviced. This is not rocket science stuff and there are many good camera repair people out there. Many of them are reclusive and just want to deal with a small group of local pros. My friend does well in an unmarked building, unlisted phone, no advertising, and only servicing equipment that is personally delivered and picked up.

[Fragomeni]

Just wanted to chime in real quick since this thread was helpful in my research leading up to purchasing my Zeiss 35mm f2.8 C Biogon ZM. All of my other lenses are Leica (used on an M4) and I've become used to the quality and performance of those lenses. I've been a fan of Zeiss (and shooter on other formats) for a long while and this became the first time I was interested in a Zeiss lens for my Leica. I picked up a near mint used example (mine is black) of the lens last week. Absolutely no sign of wobble and a very solid feeling lens (although not quite like my Leica lenses). My example feels very well made. Focus through is beautiful and actually much better then I expected and the click stops are snappier then most Leica lenses I've used. Very happy with the lens!